Losses are painful but losses are also lessons. Today GM Khachiyan flips the tables on his "Handling the French" series. He shows how his decision to avoid a theoretical move cost him in the French. GM Vinay Bhat stares down the kingside pawn majority and doesn't blink. The transition to the endgame shows the black knight's superiority over the white bishop. Melik thinks he learned his opening lesson - the next time the computer tells you to do something, you do it! | Watch video

Should you analyze the games of lower-rated players? GM Dzindzi does, and he used to compete against world champions! Even our lecturer benefitted form today's game. The lesson? Speed kills, or rather, lack thereof. Black hesitates too much in this opposite-side castling position, and White actuates open files first. There's no tardy slip for the second player - only a loss, and hopefully, a lesson. | Watch video

White has a plethora of formations against the Scheveningen, so IM Ginsburg first tackles the lesser-quality options 6. Bg5 and 6. f4. He doesn't hold these moves in high esteem. Against the former, Black chucks some pawns down the queenside and gets the open files first. Against the latter, a timely ...e5 gives Black good play in the center. He'll get to 6. Be2 and 6. g4 next, but for today, let's knock out the sidelines! | Watch video

Things that make GM Finegold happy: 1) Active pieces; 2) The Qc2 Variation of the Nimzo-Indian; 3) Killer rooks that move so many times you forget which rook started on which side of the board. Watch him beat two strong GMs with 4. Qc2. You'll learn about which pawn structures are conducive to endgames, you'll see innovative queen sorties, and in the second game you'll be reminded of "Tron" as Finegold's rooks maneuver all around the board. | Watch video

Playing the same opponent in the same line countless times can either be tedious or revelatory. For GM Khachiyan, he jumped at the chance to go down a well-trodden path with fellow Californian GM Sevillano. Our author shows the main themes of the Winawer's imbalanced pawn structure, as well as some precise clearance tactics and practical rook endgame play. Who said SoCal is just a play for sunning on the beach? | Watch video

We continue with our "theme" of pet lines in the King's Indian, but this time it's White's turn to surprise. GM Finegold shows a pair of games with an early Bf4, a move that "you are sure to know better than your opponent." In one case, Black continues normally. In the other, Black chases the seemingly wayward bishop. But both times end in crushing defeats for Black. Watch and learn what you should do to combat the variation, and what happens if you don't! | Watch video

GM Dzindzi shows off what amounts to a small book on the Two Knights Defense. He advocates for Black to play the reorganizing maneuver ...Bc5-b6 before attempting to advance his c- and d-pawns. Meanwhile, if White gets his e- and f-pawns going, then he is for choice. You'll also see some inventive queen sorties and exchange sacrifices. What's old is new again, as Roman's Lab is revised and dated theory is renewed! | Watch video

Part 3 of GM Perelshteyn's offbeat approach against the Sämisch shows that if you are flexible with your pawn structures, you can catch White out of his theoretical knowledge. The grandmaster plays a pair of games in which White does little to restrict ...b5, and Black liquidates the center with ease in both cases. After that the active Black army mops up. Watch this series and you'll see that there is nothing to fear but fear itself - and certainly not the f-pawn. | Watch video

Wow! Just spectacular. One of the best single moves we've ever featured in a video on Chess.com! GM Mikhalevski plays a sharp opposite-side castling position, where he eventually disrupts Black's development by invading on the 8th rank. But the picturesque obstruction tactic that creates zugzwang is truly remarkable. If you're able to see it coming before he shows you, maybe it's time you came to work for us! | Watch video

GM Bojkov features another star student's game. You'll see a bevy of dark-squared tactics in Indian Systems, but perhaps more important are the endgame techniques that our author wants you to learn. First, a queen endgame, then it eventually transitions to a knight endgame, where you must also know your king and pawn endgame basics. Bojkov warns you to always consider "What is the biggest danger in the position?" | Watch video

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